Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
The QKD-GEO mission is the most advanced civil project in the world in this area. It will produce unhackable ground-orbit keys that not even the most advanced quantum computers will be able to break.
Quantum key distribution (QKD) is a disruptive technology that goes beyond current optical communication models to offer a completely new paradigm in the field of information and communication security, based on the quantum properties of photons, a first step towards a future quantum internet.
With funding from EU recovery funds through PERTE Aeroespacial, the project is an initiative of Spanish Secretary of State for Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructures, whose contracting is managed by the Spain's Center for Technological Development and Innovation (CDTI), that will allow Spain to position itself in the European Commission's European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (EuroQCI) initiative.
Thales Alenia Space in Spain is leading a large industrial consortium of Spanish and other European companies, with Hispasat in charge of the design of the geostationary mission and the definition of the business plan.
Thales Alenia Space_E.Briot
Madrid, January 21st, 2025 - Thales Alenia Space, the joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), and Hispasat, Redeia's satellite services operator, have announced the start of the development, manufacturing, verification, and validation phase of the QKD-GEO prototype, Spain's quantum key distribution system from geostationary orbit. With a budget of 103.5 million euros, the QKD-GEO mission is a project initiated by the Spanish Secretary of State for Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructures and funded by European funds from the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan (PERTE Aeroespacial), for which contracting is managed by CDTI.
A paradigm shift in secure communications
The advent of quantum computers is providing much greater computational power than traditional computers for specific problems, including prime factor decomposition, which is the basis for current non-symmetric cryptography. This will lead to a paradigm shift in secure communications, as it will be possible for hackers with quantum computers to decrypt current encryptions in a matter of seconds. As such, it is essential to develop a system that allows information to be sent with the necessary safeguards in governmental communications (both civil and military), critical infrastructure management and economically, environmentally and technologically relevant services, as well as in large corporations. This technology also represents a first step towards a future quantum internet, which will represent a radical leap in global communications.
Quantum key distribution through an optical communications system makes it possible to confirm with certainty if the keys have been intercepted, as the integrity of communications is verified continuously thanks to the quantum properties of photons. Today, technology does not allow the use of fiber-optic-based connections for quantum communications for distances over hundreds of kilometers. However, the use of satellites for quantum key distribution is capable of covering large distances, as signal attenuation is lower in free space. Specifically, geostationary coverage at an altitude of 36,786 km, unlike other orbits, makes it possible to establish communications between entire continents with a single satellite, continuously and without the need for complex signal-tracking systems.
A disruptive and pioneering global project
Lasting a total of 24 months, the QKD-GEO project comprises the development of the various components for a future quantum key distribution system from geostationary orbit. Specifically, it encompasses the development of a quantum payload to be hosted on a geostationary satellite, as well as the associated ground segment. This is a disruptive and pioneering global project, since there is currently no quantum key distribution system in the world operating from geostationary orbit.
GEO-QKD has successfully completed the initial four-month system design phase, in which the system architecture has been established and the various elements of the system have been defined. The geostationary payload consists of a high-precision telescope with its pointing mechanism and integrated electronics, a quantum random number generator, a signal source of polarized photons, a laser beacon, and a processor for generating the keys and implementing the communications protocol. The ground segment consists of optical stations equipped with telescopes for receiving the photons transmitted from space and recovering the keys, as well as an operations center that organizes and controls all system activities, ensuring the smooth functioning of both the space segment and user interactions.
The project also includes a field test campaign with a 140-km atmospheric link between the islands of La Palma and Tenerife. These tests will enable functional validation of the ground segment and the quantum payload under fully representative conditions, prior to its implementation in an operational mission in orbit.
Thales Alenia Space is leading from Spain a large industrial consortium composed of Spanish and other European companies, including Thales Alenia Space in France and Switzerland, and with the participation of several entities specialized in the field of quantum communications, such as the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands (IAC), the Polytechnic University of Madrid and the University of Vigo. Meanwhile, Hispasat is responsible for the design of the geostationary mission and the definition of the business plan, with support from companies like Banco de Santander, BBVA, Telef nica, and Cellnex to analyze real use cases with the banking sector and terrestrial oper
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
19/05/2026
Actus Digital, a LiveU company, and a leading provider of intelligent media monitoring and broadcast compliance platforms, announced today that METEO CONSULT ha...
19/05/2026
Globecast, a leading provider of managed services for the broadcast and media industry, today announced the completion of a major renovation of its Singapore fa...
19/05/2026
Following a major upgrade to its Connecticut remote production centre with the installation of three 60-fader Argo S consoles in 2023, RPS has switched one of t...
19/05/2026
PlayBox Technology today announced the launch of Celebro Play, a browser-based media orchestration platform designed specifically for broadcast facilities and p...
19/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/05/2026
LYNX Technik, provider of modular signal processing solutions for broadcast, post, and professional AV will showcase its latest signal processing solutions at B...
19/05/2026
Media Links, a leading developer and manufacturer of IP media transport solutions, has announced the integration of its Xscend platform with Skyline Communicat...
19/05/2026
Collaboration expands regional partner ecosystem as Media Links showcases IP media transport solutions on stand 4M4-4 and alongside Clearcast Asia on stand
Me...
19/05/2026
Company Highlights Labor-Saving Control and Custom Branding Opportunities Designed to Increase Integrator Profitability
LynTec, a leading manufacturer of ele...
19/05/2026
Mago Studio Moves AI Video Beyond Prompts with New Production-Focused Tools
Brie Clayton May 18, 2026
0 Comments
New Capabilities Bring Controllable, ...
19/05/2026
It May be Time to Stop and Take an AI Breather
Brie Clayton May 19, 2026
0 Comments
If the rock you stay on starts to roll, jump clean. Or you'll...
18/05/2026
Despite a bumpy start to the year, the provider of event-production support and ...
18/05/2026
Daktronics has partnered with the University of North Carolina to manufacture and install 11 LED displays totaling more than 10,000 square feet and more than 14...
18/05/2026
CBS LA has announced a multi-year partnership with the Los Angeles Rams, covering exclusive local broadcasts of Rams preseason games, weekly year-round programm...
18/05/2026
Skyline Communications has announced an integration between its DataMiner xOps p...
18/05/2026
eCLUTCH, the hybrid esports platform powered by iKOMG, has announced an expansion of its distribution across Europe, MENA, Africa, and Asia, along with new cont...
18/05/2026
Behind The Mic provides a roundup of recent news regarding on-air talent, includ...
18/05/2026
With 22 games this season, the production team looks forward to tweaking and enhancing the coverage
After 8,660 days off the air, the WNBA returned to NBC yest...
18/05/2026
(L-R) Midori Francis and Natalie Erika James attend the Saccharine premiere during the 2026 Sundance Film Festival at The Ray Theatre on January 22, 2026, in ...
18/05/2026
Last night, the Spotify Podcast Awards in Mexico returned to the country's capital. Now in its second year, the evening honors creators whose voices are hel...
18/05/2026
ZEN-Core synth goes mobile
Roland's powerful ZEN-Core software synthesizer has just been introduced to the iPad, offering a convenient entry point into ...
18/05/2026
Versatile new limiter plug-in announced
Based in Sheffield, UK, fedDSP offer a range of plug-ins that span the music production, live sound and high-end med...
18/05/2026
A new use for convolution?
Viiri Audio's debut plug-in aims to do something a little different with convolution processing, allowing users to adjust all...
18/05/2026
Delta Goodrem shines for SBS as more than 3.27 million Australians tune in for E...
18/05/2026
The Australian Defence Force uses L3Harris T4 and T7 robots for explosive ordnan...
18/05/2026
Continued investment across Europe and Germany is expanding local teams and improving access to stock, regional expertise, and specialist broadcast support.
CV...
18/05/2026
Agentic AI inference at one-tenth the cost per token with NVIDIA Vera Rubin NVL7...
18/05/2026
18 May 2026
Dubai and New York, May 18, 2026 - VEON Ltd. (NASDAQ: VEON), a glob...
18/05/2026
Monday 18 May 2026
Sky News offers ad-free podcasts and bonus episodes for just...
18/05/2026
Comscore March 2026 Consumer AI Chatbot Usage Rankings Show Claude Gaining Share OpenAI's ChatGPT maintains lead while Anthropic's Claude continues to c...
17/05/2026
Delta Goodrem's Eurovision Eclipse marks end of a stellar run
17 May, 2026
Media releases
Bulgaria wins Eurovision 2026
Relive every spellbinding mome...
17/05/2026
Back to All News
Oasis Premieres on Netflix June 19
Entertainment
17 May 2026
GlobalSpain
Link copied to clipboard
Summer, sunshine, the beach, parties. T...
16/05/2026
Helps to deliver a clean, balanced midrange
Developed alongside Newfangled Audio, the latest plug-in in Eventide's software collection has been designed...
16/05/2026
Brings onboard stem rendering to RANE System One
Engine DJ have just released Engine DJ 5.0, a free update for their Engine DJ OS embedded hardware and Engi...
16/05/2026
Boris FX Continuum Pairs AI Precision and Advanced Creative Controls
Jessie Electa Petrov May 16, 2026
0 Comments
The 2026.5 release adds automatic de...
16/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
16/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
16/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
16/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/05/2026
Seattle Sounders FC and Seattle Reign FC, in partnership with RAVE Foundation an...
15/05/2026
Dan Brumm has served as sound designer on Bluey, the Australian children's t...
15/05/2026
The Professional Audio Manufacturers Alliance (PAMA) and Shure Incorporated are accepting applications for the 6th annual Mark Brunner Professional Audio Schola...
Facebook 
